Shed Brewed

Sitting and Slacking...

2011-12-26T17:19:00.003Z

Psycho Slacker had a stand at the recent Rollerburn event and although I was a bit spent out on beer and cake I took his details and spoke afterward about doing a special job for my Girlfriend for Christmas.
Here's the results;
Properly chuffed. Cheers fella.

Plain Sailing

2011-12-19T17:26:00.005Z

Yesterday I had a jolly little cycle around Salisbury Plain whilst taking part in the SPAM Winter challenge ride. I had opted to do the 35km ride and unfortunately due to a complete lack of brakes on my mate Al's bike I was without a riding buddy.
This meant my lovely girlfriend had to stand in as race mum. This is a vital role to play as you will see dear reader. So we set off early in the morning to the start at Erlestoke. It really was a fantastic day to be out and about.

We rolled in somewhere around 0945 and picked up my race number and rules/guide. Whilst I got clothed race mum affixed the number to the bike with great care and twine.

Due to ice on the top part of the course the start got delayed 15 minutes and then all of a sudden we were off and away up a long twisting fire road climb. I'm afraid there aren't any pictures of the ride itself as I was riding, and didn't have a camera. So instead let me tell you this; it was crisp under-wheels and there were only a few parts where it was boggy in the tank tracks. The downhill sections were quite fun and could be taken without braking provided no one fell off in front of you. One rider did fall in front of me but they had the good grace to fall off the track and not under my wheels. I did hear hand-wringing moans from some riders about the practice of traveling downhill at such a pace but as I advised them in response; if you wanted to do something safe, you should have gone shopping not mountain biking.
There were a couple of long grassy climbs which brought back memories of the slog up the Sugarloaf a few weeks back. One section required a get off and push after the rear tyre just kept losing traction. The roads were roadlike and icy in places but nothing terrible.
It was great to travel through the lost village of Imber but sadly I was in no position to stop and sightsee.
After a few more climbs and descents the finish line rapidly approached.
Hurrah I had done it!!
See the joy on my face!
Race mum was on hand to provide a drink

and then escorted me to the tea and cake ladies where she kindly bought me a mug of tea and some delicious tiffin (long term readers will know how I love tiffin).

That then was the end of that, everything was loaded back up and off to Wales we went.
Thanks to the organisers, the tea and cake ladies (other vendors were available) and Race mum.

Update, the results are in and in this non-competitive event that you get given numbers and timed for, I came 27th from 159 in class.

Rollerburn pics

2011-11-20T18:58:00.007Z

So, Rollerburn was yesterday, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Bikes, girls, beer, cake, friends, art. All in a great atmosphere.
Above are some of the photos I took.
Thank you to the Sideburn guys, and all who assisted in putting the event on.
All the pictures here

Rollerburn

2011-11-16T21:06:00.004Z

Rollerburn is this weekend. I am very excited. Little snippet of joy for the day; Newark, where the event is being held, is an anagram of 'wanker'.

Wax update

2011-11-14T21:35:00.003Z

Update on Foad Wax, nice to use and a good hold. I am pushing extra hard for the hairs to grow enough for a full circle twirl. The helmet does cramp the ends though.

What's in the loft?

2011-11-13T17:17:00.006Z

Had a bit of loft clearance today in order to get a load of insulation down. Anyway, enough DIY. I love going up in the loft as I get to root around through memories.
Bit of a long post this one but bear with me.
First up is my cut-off. Yes, really. I used to wear this over my (already badged up) leather as a youth!

The Ace Cafe pin badge I inherited from my Dad, and the other pin badge is from the European Young Rider of the Year competition in 1999. I came 17th (from memory) in the UK finals. The Paratrooper beret badge was my Great-Uncle Eric's, he didn't make it back from Arnhem. Anyway, it's a bit embarrassing to look at now, but at the time I thought I was the shiznitz.

Next up I found a couple of pages from my sketchbook which I had framed and used to have on the wall way back. Still nice to look at them, even though I never mastered drawing ellipses.
These next pics are of the Dealer brochure for the original Triumph Trident 750. My Dad always wanted one, but never had one. I love the brochure, some real details in it. Anyway, pics.
Cover-
Middle-
Which opens out to reveal-
Next pages have some nice details on the engine-
finally on the rear is the dealer stamp and a nice side panel shot-
So, just a few memories

Kooky and cool

2011-11-09T20:01:00.002Z

First off an interesting Drysdale 2WD from a show in Australia

Then a new Yamaha XTW250 from EICMA 2011

And let's have a ROKON because it fits right in!

Style!

2011-11-09T15:19:00.002Z

As you can observe from the pictures in the previous post things are getting bushy about the chops. I decided to have a play with some moustache wax and happened across Foad Wax
A product that ticks boxes for me in being British made and with natural ingredients including British beeswax. Also having received it, it smells nice.
The package came all the way from Brixton in very short time, and was suitably chirpy.
I shall have a play and report back.

That time again

2011-11-02T17:02:00.005Z

Why is it I seem to be ill properly once a year?
I've just been discharged from hospital after what started as feeling a bit crummy last Tuesday lead swiftly to aching like hell, running a fever and lots and lots of diarrhea. An emergency GP appointment Thursday saw me being ambulanced off to the nearest hospital's Emergency Assessment Unit (EAU) for many tests.
Here I am not feeling great-
Come Friday evening though I was feeling a lot better and was up and about and although I still had the squits they were getting less. I was being told to drink fluids and rest and the part of me that dislikes hospitals was getting twitchy. I decided to discharge myself as I was taking up valuable space. Cue tutting from Docs and me signing my life away.
Home, bath and to bed.
Cue early hours of Saturday morning me being very concerned about my guts.
As Saturday progressed things were getting worse. I was feeling really bad and there was starting to be a lot of blood in my poop. There are many things a man shouldn't see when he surveys his bow of produce, blood (and a sizeable amount of it) is one of them. After phone calls to NHS Direct and then out of hours GP I was once again back in the EAU. This time I was plumbed into an IV pump and had 2 litres of Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride fired into me, as well as painkillers, some antibiotics and anti-coagulant injections to my belly (ouch!)
I was also told I was contagious and had to be room bound. This meant using a commode and bedpan. There are things a gentleman's appendages should never come into contact with. The contents of a bedpan are one of them. I devised a method for appendage distribution whereby liquids could flow forward into a urinal, and what should be solids would flow into the bedpan, and that method worked very well for me.
Come Monday there were some results back from my samples and it was confirmed I had Campylobacter. By now I was becoming a little stir crazy and feeling a bit better again.
I was cleared of my IV lines, given a new course of antibiotics and transferred to a different solitary ward. After a day or so in there I was discharged, with instructions to stay indoors for at least 48hours with no public contact.
It has been a horrid illness and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I'm still not sure what I could have eaten to get it, as my girlfriend has thankfully been fine. She has been very good looking after me although she hasn't appreciated the talking of poo.

New Boots!

2011-10-25T10:18:00.006+01:00

I'm not one for posts about fashion, just as well given my general lack of taste, but well, after about 16 months of searching, weighing up options, speaking to manufacturers, trying boots on, then 2 months of waiting for the chosen pair to arrive I finally have some new boots, and I'm bloody chuffed.
(drum roll)
A pair of Cheaney Tweed C's. Lovely large-punch brogue design with intricate embellishment on the toe. Commando sole (as denoted by the 'C') and calfskin lined. Most importantly, all made in England (Northampton to be precise). These shall be a pair to cherish.

More race?

2011-10-17T21:05:00.005+01:00

Popped my cyclocross cherry on the weekend by entering the Bourne Wheelers race at Bourne Woods. I was over the flat side of the country for a good friend's stag do on the Saturday (howdy Jon!) and so drove up in the new wagon with the bike in the back to have a crack at the racing on Sunday.
Probably perfect conditions; cool but dry. With nerves going we set off.
I thought I was going to puke myself stupid by about the second lap of the 2.7 mile course which threaded it's way through the woods making use of the fire roads and singletrack. It was a great course and thankfully my stomach contents stayed inside.
With no real grasp of how the racing worked I just kept pedaling and swapped places with the chap in the blue above several times. I had a brief excursion into the scenery when I slid out on a corner in the woods and couldn't get my feet unclipped from the pedals in time to dab. Aside from that it was a pretty smooth race. I got 5 laps in, but not sure where I came. Still waiting for the results to come online. There were about 7-8 people come in behind me in the 5 lap group, and my mates got 4 laps in.
Cheers Aidan
Cheers JT
and cheers JB
I had a great time. Thank you Sarah for the photos.

Race?

2011-09-26T21:10:00.003+01:00

Well, despite pulling my back and tethering my sciatic nerve 2 weeks ago, I, and the other 3 members of Team Stoned Fish competed in the 6th Forest of Dean MTB Enduro. Big thanks to my physio for the exercises and pummeling, and to the organisers for putting the event on.
L-R me, JT, JB and Jake
The weather was somewhat inclement, meaning plenty of mud and slarr. The start was a bit frantic as 90odd of us in class set off up the half mile fire road climb, the first part of the 10 mile course designed to spread people out before the forest singletrack.
The large bunch of people meant that the singletrack sections through the forest were slower than I would have liked, and passing chances were limited. Still, passes were made even on some of the climbs where I found grip whilst others were slipping. Also I did some cheeky passes whilst pushing the bike uphill faster than others...
Not far from the end was a nice fast downhill section, the ground was a lot softer than it had been and a root jump nearly had me off into the scenery when the landing slid out form under my tyres. Still it was a good chance to make some ground. Tight left at the bottom and then get the hammer down for the final fire road slog to the finish.
Once through the finish gantry I was met by JT who had finished in fifth. I didn't know my placing, but did know I was hungry. Girlfriends met us and I got some much on and warmed up.
Anyway, after checking times and placings, I had come in 15th, in 1hr 7min 59secs. Properly chuffed. JT came in 5th as mentioned in 1hr 3min 4secs, JB came in 61st in 1hr 26min 32secs after three chain breakages and having to run with the bike the last half mile, Jake came in 76th in 1hr 42min 45secs, impressive considering he had been drafted in to replace someone who had pulled out on us last minute and hadn't been on a bike for 10years!
Good times.

Holiday

2011-08-24T12:02:00.004+01:00

Five days, five mountain bike trail centres in Wales. I caught the train up to Wrexham to meet up with a couple of mates and their car. A little 306 diesel that coped admirably with the three of us, three bikes, camping kit and spares. First day was at Coed Llandegla. Then a drive to Dolgellau to a bunkhouse.

Bikes and kit unloaded we were into Dolgellau for a pint and a curry. Hard partiers that we were, bedtime was about half 9.
Coed y Brenin the next day. Great scenery, but the start was marred for me by having a small off which wedged the saddle into my groin, and then being stung twice by a wasp. A larger off followed about half an hour later when I wedged my front wheel into a rock drop.
There might have been some piss taking...
Next up was the Raven trail in Brechfa forest. No pics at all from this day as it was so wet and muddy the water was running out of our shoes whilst we cycled. Still, it can't all be sunshine and smiles. The trail was fun, and breakages amounted to only a puncture and snapped chain.
Glyncorrwg at Afan next up, and it was a bloody hard climb straight off. I managed to have a very impressive off at a standstill whilst trying to negotiate a gate. Thankfully no pictures but there were witnesses. The grub at the visitors center there was delicious, although my offer of marriage to the lady who made the tiffin was turned down. Great tiffin.

Driving back and someone wanted to get a little shuteye in the back, so my wheel got a wash courtesy of the drool from sleeping. Someone woke up just as I was trying to document this...
Cwmcarn on the final day, a nice easy finish to the set. Things that struck me were first of all everyone we met or dealt with were friendly, polite and helpful. The food at the visitor centres was not only good value, but really tasty too. The quality of the trails was better than I was expecting, and the parking was very reasonable; between £2-4 a day.
Thanks Wales.

Honest

2011-07-26T21:11:00.003+01:00

Quick snaps of this Beemer in Hoxton on Saturday. I know nothing about the bike but it has a nice honest charm to it, and I love the seat.

Murky past

2011-07-19T20:46:00.003+01:00

Dice #39 came through the post today, got to say I think it's the best so far. The insert mag; Deadend reminded me of my low rider days, with UK club Lo-rdz. From the top then; 1975 Chevy Nova, 1983 Mercedes W123 280e, 1994 Ford Scorpio. Missing from the line up is the 1980 Buick Regal.
Some good times were had, and some very lairy nights.

Listening

2011-07-17T17:14:00.000+01:00

Mojo!

2011-07-14T21:13:00.003+01:00

A good evening. First off I shaped the exhaust hanger I'd made to allow the silencer a better sitting position. Use of the blowtorch and some pipe for leverage left me with two nice curves.
A bit of scotchbriting later and it was on the bike along with the strap I made to replace the gaudy tinfoil thing that ebay turned up.
Then it was a case of on with the new stainless steel chain snails, courtesy of Hessler Rallye Team from Germany. Also got the new Renthal chain fitted, and the run is perfect. Phew!
A bit of a conundrum; kevlar Renthal grips that compliment the olde English white paint (LHS) or Biltwell Kung Fu's that suit the style of the bike and go more with the saddle? Thoughts anyone?

Pleased

2011-07-11T21:29:00.003+01:00

Dunc picked the bodywork up on Sunday and then posted these pics for me. I'm pleased with how it looks, even if it is tongue in cheek.

Keep it coming Dunc.

Funny

2011-06-28T11:28:00.002+01:00

Doing a quick search for DR800 parts (there's one in diaspora in the shed) and I turned up this picture from the always good bubblevisor anyway, following the search link and lo and behold, the bike below it is my Aussie friend Stew's DCM SR500...
Smaller world...

Reminder

2011-06-23T21:57:00.003+01:00

A chance for a really nice ride tonight reminded me of how just getting out there can be fun.
That's all really.

Away

2011-06-22T07:50:00.003+01:00

It has been a busy few weeks. A week on holiday on the East shore of Lake Garda, and then a new job started. Somehow it seems that all the relaxation of the holiday disappears when you have a new job to face. Anyway normal service will be resumed shortly. For now a few holiday snaps.

busy

2011-06-02T14:01:00.003+01:00

Painted some bodywork for a friend's street tracker. A little tongue in cheek maybe. Waiting for the clear to cure so it can be cut and buffed.

Flip flop

2011-05-22T20:09:00.003+01:00

Built up my new Reynolds 853 tubed Inbred today. Swapped over all the running gear from the Alfine hub'd Genesis Io id. Some head scratching but it's done now.
The bike feels very springy and loose. In a good way.

Productive

2011-05-20T20:37:00.002+01:00

Spent the late afternoon making use of the oven being on and some fresh eggs from the farm, along with some sneaky honey from a mates bees and baked a pretty bloody good cake.

Shame

2011-05-09T16:08:00.003+01:00

1500 miles between MoTs I found out on Friday.
That's shameful. Seems the Tenere has taken over all the duties.
I decided to put some more on the Triumph over a 24 hour run to the Fens and back to catch up with friends. 450 more as it turned out, thanks to some navigation errors on my part.
Despite heavy rain and crappy conditions, the 17 year old bike didn't miss a beat.
Just need to get used to the new rear tyre now.

Slowly

2011-05-04T11:25:00.003+01:00

Got a little job done on SB#3 last night. Made the exhaust hanger up. 2 x 16x16 8mm id stainless steel spacers, and a length of 16mm od 316 tube.
All I need to do now is make an exhaust strap up, as the ebay one looks bloody awful.
Another job off the list.

Gank

2011-05-02T16:58:00.003+01:00

Got bitten four times last Thursday by some unknown flies. Don't think they were horseflies as I didn't feel it. Either that or my legs were still a bit duff from nettle stings incurred whilst singletracking. Anyway come Friday afternoon the swelling had started and I was feeling a bit rough. Saturday morning, after a rough night I was feeling worse. Ended up seeing emergency GP and got diagnosis of Cellulitis. Cue antibiotics and much co-codamol. Saturday night I was running a fever and had that delightful feeling of sweating like a whore in church whilst shivering so hard the bed was rattling.
Slowly feeling better but it put the kybosh on a few plans.
Bastard flies

Red Hot Marley

2011-04-26T12:28:00.002+01:00

Cracking day out yesterday up at Red Marley. Not too many crashes this year either. Met up with a few folk and enjoyed the sunshine and cider. Some of the young uns were giving the old guard a good run for it.

Perve

2011-04-22T18:36:00.002+01:00

Today I finally installed the Yamaha DSP-E1000 in my HiFi. I'm lucky in that I inherited a lot of good, not necessarily great, stuff from my Dad. The DSP was part payment for some work I did years ago and has sat unloved for too long. Now it's in and I'm am absolutely loving it. The vinyl has been dragged out and the neighbours are hearing DJ Shadow as it should be heard.

Pathfinding

2011-04-21T16:43:00.003+01:00

Been out on the pushiron trying to find routes to ride the Ten on. Sometimes going that little bit extra gives you a great reward.

Growing

2011-04-11T11:10:00.002+01:00

Sunday was RHS show Cardiff, and then some gardening. It pleases me when all the seedlings are coming to the time of being able to be transplanted.

Ash from the BBQ is my first wave of anti-slug measures...

Fun in the sun

2011-04-09T20:15:00.002+01:00

Warm today, had a pile of Suzuki, HEL, Pro-Bolt and Renthal goodies to go on the bike.
It was a day of doing all the little jobs; torque arm, painting brackets, buying odd stainless bolts. That and getting a red neck from the sun. So just before the BBQ was set light the jobs done today amounted to-
Engine casing bolts all sorted and cut to size.
Torque arm and rear caliper hanger tidied, stripped and painted.
Sprockets fitted.
Footrests assembled and fitted.
Brake lines fitted.
Battery box stripped and painted.

Was a good day.

Snap On Theft

2011-03-28T19:45:00.000+01:00

Hi all, my brother in law's Snap On stock got turned over. He's up in the North East so if anyone up that way could keep an eye and ear out for people fencing on cheap Snap On stuff and let me know, it'd be appreciated.
Cheers.

Don't care

2011-03-27T11:55:00.003+01:00

Out and about yesterday on one of my favourite little runs and spotted this in a pull off. Stopped and chatted with the guy and gave him some more road recommendations and then we were away.
Trying to find an open hostelry can sometimes be rather difficult. Should have brought a thermos with us. High points include going into a bend that wasn't the 2nd gear screamer I thought but was actually a 1st gear switchback, and riding alongside a Red Kite that was just over the hedge.

SB#4?

2011-03-22T12:58:00.001Z

Next in line?

Not forgotten

2011-03-20T18:07:00.003Z

Kickstart pawl freed off, meaning I can kick the bike over now, big sighs of relief as I thought I was going to have to split the cases. Baffle made for the Remus BSB race silencer. Cross screen filter on 50mm lens.
Roscoe P Coltrane somewhat nonplussed by all the going ons.

Volusia AMA Flat Track

2011-03-14T10:29:00.003Z

Pics in no particular order, but on a tip off from Mr Inman at Sideburn, my first day on holiday in Florida was spent at the AMA All-Stars Flat Track race at Volusia Speedway, De Leon Springs, Florida. Poor weather forecasting had put attendees off apparently, but still it was just fine for us, we even managed to get sunburned a little.

Ped final

2011-02-24T13:05:00.004Z

The race was long and hot, this was May, I think the temp was somewhere in the high 20'Cs. Anyway it was hot enough to leave leathers soaked.
Our usual stints were 20 min each, with Phil as team lap counter and Sarah and Michelle as pit ladies, flagging us in when needed.
Jay in flight over the jump-

Phil telling Jay to pit next lap-

Fuelling up on changeover-

Jumping for joy (my back was knackered at the end of the day)-
Brake late and deep and fire it out-
We finished 3rd in class (50cc 2T) and were properly chuffed with it.

More ped

2011-02-24T12:54:00.006Z

Well I might as well carry on.
Competition being what it is we wanted more speed. More parts were purchased, including a larger carb (19mm), reeds, rollers and different springs. We also changed from a pod air filter to a composite affair (using slug pellet tubs) that allowed us three external filters to fit over the pod filter. Wittering was a dusty track to race at and power losses due to clogged air filters were common. With our three filters we were able to quickly spin on a fresh filter, clean the dirty one, and have a third drying and ready to go.
Testing was undertaken in a local field with a scrap find C90 for comparison.

Observe the wheels still in pre-race colours, and the foam bar pad. Other changes were a respray in silver flake with candy green over the top, and daytona yellow details. The seat material was changed form the outrageous poodle fur, to black faux crocodile skin vinyl.
Testing was positive after we had played about with jetting adjustments, and the ped was faster than the C90.
Finally we were all ready to go

Notice the mudguard detail with direction of travel arrow, and tasteful green handgrips.
Either Jay or I, I think it was me, had made a paddock stand as well, and come race day we were good to go.

More good times

2011-02-24T12:35:00.006Z

Just had a couple of pics emailed to me by my good friend Lil. Must be 3 years ago at least when we entered the RAF Wittering Supermotoped 6 hour endurance race.
Managed to source a crashed Malaguti Phantom 50cc ped, and then over the course of the weekend transformed it into a racer.
As it arrived, check that fork angle-

And after a coupe of days of beer fuelled cutting, welding and painting

Notice the classy lace job, the fine faux-poodle fur seat, the frame bracing and the lack of extraneous parts. At this stage the only tuning was the spannie and silencer that it came with. With yours truly on board (far right) it would just nudge 55kph.
Phil (far left) took it back from Wales to the Fens in the back of his Citroen ZX, and Jay then straightened the bent fork leg and began the tuning. This was the first incarnation of the mighty ped so it only had the carb upsized to a 15mm from 12mm, rollers changed, clutch/hub springs changed/uprated. Think we placed 13th overall, despite me crashing 2 or 3 times.

Pics from Steve Gower.

Heart and er, heart

2011-02-21T14:05:00.003Z

image from visordown

Changes in circumstances mean follow on changes. The old butterfly effect. Happened across a Hypermotard 1100 evo on the weekend. Tried it for size and it felt good. Downers are tiny fuel tank, and it being a Ducati and all that is inherent wit the reliability or lack of in that respect.
Doesn't stop me quite wanting one though.
The KTM 950/990SM is the only other bike I think comes close. I promised myself I wouldn't have another Aprilia after the Caponord, so the Dorsoduro is out.
I think I need test rides.

More words

2011-02-15T09:56:00.002Z

The Unsettled Motorcyclist's
vision of his Death
 
Across the open countryside,
Into the walls of rain I ride.
It beats my cheek, drenches my knees,
But I am being what I please.
The firm heath stops, and marsh begins.
Now we're at war: whichever wins
My human will cannot submit
To nature, though brought out of it.
The wheels sink deep; the clear sound blurs:
Still, bent on the handle-bars,
I urge my chosen instrument
Against the mere embodiment.
Though so oppressed I find I may
Through substance move. I pick my way,
Where death and life in one combine,
Through the dark earth that is not mine,
Crowded with fragments, blunt, unformed;
While past my ear where noises swarmed
The marsh plant's white extremities,
Slow without patience, spread at ease
Invulnerable and soft, extend
With a quiet grasping toward their end

Thom Gunn

Just seems like a fitting follow on to the Dragon and the ride home.

Dragon Rally 2011

2011-02-14T11:17:00.005Z

Just a few words on this years, the 50th, Dragon Rally.

Was really a chance to try and beat some demons, a 50% success rate.

Small victories.

Ride up Friday with Dave and Al, taking the roads less travelled.

Friday night in Dolgellau with chums, in the rain. Saturday via Blaenau Ffestiniog for breakfast with a bold ice cream shop next door.

Onto the rather swamp like site from there. Spend the afternoon/evening wandering around snapping photos and meeting up with old acquaintances.

Have an anxiety attack and make the stupid decision to ride home at 2230, seemed the only way to deal with it. Tank just under half full on the Ten. No petrol stations open on the A470 overnight it seems and the weather is cold and wet. Empty third of a litre of petrol from my stove into the tank around Newbridge on Wye. Get home 47 miles into reserve at 2am, with, based on previous run-dry tests, 3 miles left in there. Now that's how to focus your anxiety.

Parents

2011-02-04T10:06:00.003Z

I have very few photos of my parents, my dad died in 1998, but I do have pics of some of their bikes.

Mum's VFR400K NC21, this bike was crashed by me twice; once on a mud covered bend out the back of Holbeach, and then written off when a rover 416 pulled out on me in Whaplode.

Dad's born-again bike; EX500A1, in proper kwak colours. I used to bug him to take me to school on it.
Dad's tinkering bike; Yamaha TR1, as he got it, with tasteful fogging paint and yellow calipers. My RM80. Notice the missing handguard as I'd binned it, again.
The TR1 again, part way through being made more tasteful. Anthracite paint, R90 fairing gone. This was as far as it got before he died.

Youthful trips and bikes pt2

2011-02-04T10:02:00.003Z

Toy run to Hinchingbrooke Special Care baby unit, summer 97, went down on my CB250RS, along with Tim on his GSX250. I remember being massively pissed, getting our heads shaved for charity, eating a load of fruit cake, and then puking up all the fruit cake.

Youthful trips and bikes pt1

2011-02-04T09:59:00.002Z

I don't remember the show, but it was over Derby way. I went from Holbeach on my TS125, aged 17. It seemed like a really long way.

Really good times

2011-02-04T09:56:00.004Z

Back row L-R

Debs, Lil, Pat, Gangly Jon, Pink Hansord, Dave,

Front row L-R

Pizza Leg Almey, Pie RIP, Dawlish, Tim, Me, Claire, Kat

Thanks.

Muscle?

2011-02-04T09:52:00.002Z

AKA my first car.

1975 Chevy Nova with a 350SBC from a '79 Blazer, edelbrock intake manifold, holley carb, velocity stack and pancake filter, tube headers, police over riders front and back.

At 21 this was a whole heap of fun for terrorising Spalding.

Baby steps

2011-02-04T09:48:00.003Z

Way back in 1997 I was in Holbeach ATC, the year before I'd been up to Horncastle to see the first Youth Bike competition and decided that it would be a good thing to enter. My RM80 big wheel became the donor bike.

Stripped, cleaned and aerosol painted with a ford electric blue (I think) and fluoro yellow. Subframe cut and jacked up and brazed together.

This isn't quite the final version that went to the show, as we put a headlamp on it.

We won first prize 'Most Zany', second place 'Under 125cc' and another that I can't remember.

Good times.

Milestones

2011-01-14T17:32:00.003Z

Why is it that certain combinations of numbers in certain contexts seem so important?

The Tenere rattled over 20,000 miles today, in 25 months almost to the day. I got a feeling of satisfaction seeing it.

Playing

2011-01-13T09:29:00.004Z

My christmas present lens arrived yesterday; a Sigma 10-20mm for my Canon. I couldn't resist snapping a few pics. I'm looking forward to taking more time over some more shots.

Buy the postcard (take the ride)

2011-01-11T19:03:00.004Z

Hands shoved in pockets we wander,

works of the undying glimpsed.

What is seen is not really seen

for some.

Markings and notes,

the snap of the capture by those wanting

to remember more.

Yet not actually having the memory.

What is seen is more than seen for those that do.

It is felt and acknowledged.

Public spaces become private.

Personal is everywhere.

Triumph Love

2011-01-04T10:26:00.003Z

Feeling the love for the Speed Triple. Appearances on Rocket Garage and on Bubble Visor have reminded me that I shouldn't sell it.

Also all that bare oiled alloy would be a magnet to the salt that's out on the road at the moment, so in the shed it will stay.

Triumph TIger 800 Test

2010-12-30T18:21:00.003Z

Had a chance today to take the new Tiger 800 for a two up test ride. Conditions were pretty poor and the bike was still in the running in period so I was gentle with it.

First impressions then; very low and compact for the genre. A bit too small for me to be honest. The pillion seat was described by my co-pilot as the worst she'd tried. The engine feels light and fresh, happy to rev and not buzzy. It's a good thing it is happy to rev, as you need to keep the revs up in the mid range in order to make progress.

The bike feels long and no doubt the addition of a pillion added to this. Adjustment on the shock is preload only (that I could see) and I wound it in 2/3rd of the way to account for the pillion. The test bike had the Arrow silencer and alloy sump guard fitted from the accessory catalogue; the silencer gave a little rasp to the exhaust note, though most on board sound came from the airbox. The sump guard appeared a little extraneous and was really there it seemed in order to take your eye away from the under-sump catalytic convertor.
I was a bit disappointed in the bike to be honest. I had hoped for something with a bit more grunt to it. There was no denying the bike was smooth to pull from low revs even in a high gear, but it really needed revving to get the most from it. Rumour has it a 1200cc version will be with us mid next year. I will hold on until then.

It's that time

2010-12-24T14:08:00.002Z

I'm off to go and spend time with family. Have fun and take care out there.

Chores and more

2010-12-23T09:48:00.003Z

Had to go out and pick up a lamb from the butchers over the valley yesterday morning. Roads were fine, just slush. Got home and went out exploring.

The lanes were a little more snowbound, I got stuck going up a few of them. The horses didn't have as much hassle.

Relaxing

2010-12-19T17:00:00.003Z

Still snowy out. Took the pushiron out for a pedal.

Revlon

2010-12-19T16:58:00.001Z

Make good air filter driers... Just have to hope the g/f doesn't notice the smell.

You're an idiot

2010-12-06T11:11:00.002Z

Prod the snow long enough and it will prod back. Turning around 2up in some woods and the bike slid over on the sloped verge edge. All fine. I don't think me laughing went down too well with the girlfriend.

Nice

2010-12-03T13:56:00.002Z

Lamp

2010-11-15T20:20:00.001Z

Made some headlamp brackets for #3. Still need some tweaking, but I'm pleased with how it's coming together.

Fruity nut loops

2010-11-05T09:28:00.003Z

What do you do with a seized Fiat Punto engine? You don't Fix It Again Tony.

Cut a cylinder off

Weld it up

Stick the resulting single cylinder engine in a push bike

Still not enough? How about a Turbo?

Stepping back and off

2010-11-02T14:21:00.002Z

Took time out and had a break on a narrow boat. Three days of pretty much being off the radar. It was properly enjoyable and a good counter to the cut and thrust of daily existence.

I am the Night Rider

2010-10-21T09:45:00.003+01:00

Out last night in the cold to take a few pics of the Triumph by moonlight on the Blorenge.

Cold enough that there was frost forming on the seat by the time I'd done.

Pics done with EOS1000D, 50mm f1.8 lens, small tripod.

Dossing in the Dales

2010-10-11T14:07:00.007+01:00

Took a little run up to the Russian Bike Owner's October rally held in Dent. Weather was good, if a little windy, and I only rode up there for the Saturday night.

Run up was nothing special; usual route of A49/M6 then I headed off to Gargrave via Clitheroe. Reason being I wanted an ice cream and some sweets from the Dalesman Cafe there.

Post ice cream it was up to Malham and past the Tarn

before dropping down to Stainforth and up past the Ribblehead viaduct before taking the Cowgill road into Dent and passing under the Dent viaduct.

Tipi up and had a good nose about the site. Populated by a lot of GS's this year. Some nice Russian/Eastern Bloc stuff in evidence.

Floral MZ tank art, contrasted nicely with the NATO green bike.

Daihatsu Turbo Diesel engined Cossack-

Right hand side chair means 2wheel drive. Shark mouth is pure decadence

Ariel Leader sounded really clean and crisp when it came in, thankfully it stayed upright through the night despite the wind-

Down to the Sun Inn for vittles in the evening.

I was awake before even the sparrows were farting, so packed the Tipi down and departed before half seven. I rode with the breaking dawn on my own until the sun ghosted the sky around Burrow.

After that it was a steady run back, with a bit of dicing with a pair of Guzzis and a new VMax for part of the homeward stretch. Jolly good fun.

Comfort Zone

2010-09-27T14:20:00.003+01:00

I was almost out of mine on the weekend; ushering at a friends wedding meant wearing a suit. Thankfully it was the classy top and tails combo. Stick courtesy of my great grandfather.

Oh and I'm not a pixie, my g/f is 6' 4" and she's wearing a pair of hefty heels.

Uncle Tom

2010-09-20T13:01:00.002+01:00

Well, my 100th post and a celebratory one at that. As of just before midnight last night I became an Uncle when my Sister gave birth to Joshua David. I only just found out, seems the little bugger (9lbs 10oz) wasn't so keen on coming out. No pics, but hey.

Some show pics

2010-09-20T11:50:00.003+01:00

Long day.

Triumph Live

2010-09-16T10:17:00.002+01:00

Is on this Saturday 18th at Mallory Park, Leics. My Speed Turnip was shortlisted and invited to appear in the custom show, if you see me about, come say hi.

Triumph Live site

A weekend wasted

2010-09-05T19:39:00.003+01:00

Is never a wasted weekend. Or at least that's how the saying goes.

The original plan was that I was taking the g/f up to Lake Windermere for her to compete in a swimming race. Her race was postponed due to algae, so I was set then to head over to Spalding for the Kustom Kulture weekend, until the bends and tube from OJZ arrived. With the weather looking promising I set to doing a job I'd been putting off for a while; making the exhaust system for the DR.

2 days later, and I've got a finished system. Chuffed.

Good evening

2010-09-02T21:07:00.003+01:00

First off my copy of Sideburn 6 arrived, no thanks to the posties who managed to lose the first one sent out. So I retired to the local to enjoy it, along with the best crisps ever.

Then I got home and fitted my new beartrap pedals to the pushiron. So much better than the clip pedals it came with. The cat has decided they make a good scratching post too...

Sneaky

2010-09-02T12:00:00.004+01:00

Very fast turnaround on the seat for the Triumph. I cannot wait to have it in my sweaty mitts. Cheers again Steve at lucky7moto

Words

2010-09-01T09:56:00.000+01:00

On The Move 'Man, You Gotta Go.'

The blue jay scuffling in the bushes follows

Some hidden purpose, and the gush of birds

That spurts across the field, the wheeling swallows,

Have nested in the trees and undergrowth.

Seeking their instinct, or their pose, or both,

One moves with an uncertain violence

Under the dust thrown by a baffled sense

Or the dull thunder of approximate words.

On motorcycles, up the road, they come:

Small, black, as flies hanging in heat, the Boy,

Until the distance throws them forth, their hum

Bulges to thunder held by calf and thigh.

In goggles, donned impersonality,

In gleaming jackets trophied with the dust,

They strap in doubt--by hiding it, robust--

And almost hear a meaning in their noise.

Exact conclusion of their hardiness

Has no shape yet, but from known whereabouts

They ride, directions where the tires press.

They scare a flight of birds across the field:

Much that is natural, to the will must yield.

Men manufacture both machine and soul,

And use what they imperfectly control

To dare a future from the taken routes.

It is part solution, after all.

One is not necessarily discord

On Earth; or damned because, half animal,

One lacks direct instinct, because one wakes

Afloat on movement that divides and breaks.

One joins the movement in a valueless world,

Crossing it, till, both hurler and the hurled,

One moves as well, always toward, toward.

A minute holds them, who have come to go:

The self-denied, astride the created will.

They burst away; the towns they travel through

Are home for neither birds nor holiness,

For birds and saints complete their purposes.

At worse, one is in motion; and at best,

Reaching no absolute, in which to rest,

One is always nearer by not keeping still.

Thom Gunn

One off the list

2010-08-25T21:12:00.002+01:00

Trying to do the little things that still need doing and take an unequal amount of time.

Tonight was fitting the median of the recommended jets and needles to the FCR carb for the DR for base settings.

Bored?

2010-08-23T15:06:00.002+01:00

Read my self-indulgent book!

Gestation

2010-08-19T17:45:00.002+01:00

He'd had it for some time, but today the seat for the DR returned from Steve at Lucky7moto and very nice it is too.

He will see my business again. Great job Steve. Cheers. I suppose I had better get on with the bike now.

More Jawa

2010-08-19T15:34:00.003+01:00

Some internet browsing has turned up a few Jawa scramblers, with a fetching red and silver colour scheme.

Also this cutaway of a Jawa single powered car-

How tidy is that?

Slippers

2010-08-16T15:44:00.002+01:00

Useful for directing things.

Carbuncle

2010-08-05T10:59:00.004+01:00

Right, I'm firing into the Jawa/MZ beastie I have and I need help and suggestions from the huge (yeah right) audience here.

Bit of history; the frame is a 1974 Jawa 350, with a home built cantilever swingarm working two Hagon shocks. Some would say very TZ, they would be slightly blind.

It currently haas Dunstall bodywork, which is being filed away for a future project.

Wheels are Suzuki GSX250, forks are Suzuki GT550. Bikini fairing is BMW R90, and is being removed.

Engine is MZ ETZ250.

Spannie is Yamaha YPVS.

Get the picture?

I want something with no frills, and plenty of fun. Able to do the commute and also piss about on lanes and tracks.

This is where people out there come in; I have access to a neat little MZ TS tank, and ideas about using a single seat squab with a steel rear guard, or maybe a fibreglass flat track seat unit tagged on the back. I need to source some bars from somewhere; anyone got any 7/8" cowhorns or good wide bars lurking?

Colours; there won't be any flake or candy, I'm thinking industrial finishes; grey, ivory, brown, or maybe something in CZ or Jawa (if anyone can point me onto them) racing colours?

A moan

2010-08-04T10:24:00.002+01:00

Owning more than one bike is a good thing, my Dad once said that it was good to have a bike for each mood you had. The problem comes when one of those bikes stops working. If the bike is one that is used every day then the pressure is on to fix it and quickly. If it's one that is just an occasional indulgence then the pressure is off to fix it and it tends to be put towards one side.

Then you end up with nothing more than an ornament taking up space. I suppose this is just a prod to clear out the untouched bikes, or pull my finger out and fix them more.

Again

2010-08-04T09:49:00.003+01:00

I love my Speed Triple, I really do. Yet there are times when it drives me mad. Heading off to look at a couple of potential projects a month ago it died on me. Refused to start despite my best efforts so back home on a trailer. This canned the ideas of the projects, as the Triumph had become one again.

After trying the usual suspects on the T300 series; CDI, pick up coil, sidestand switch/relay and still drawing a blank and no spark I was getting a little frustrated. Checking through the loom for earth continuity for the 3rd/4th time I happened to brush a loop wire in the unused factory alarm connector.

It moved.

Broken wire.

Fucker.

Wire spliced, spark from the plugs. Bike running.

Some would think the story ends there, but being a Triumph it doesn't. Whilst parked up I noticed some fluid on the rear rim. The seals had gone on one of the pistons. That's fixed now as well.

This kinda brings me on to my next moan.

Sometimes

2010-07-28T15:06:00.003+01:00

You just get hit in the face and it feels so good.

Beezerker A65 engined bike built by Speed Shop Design. To say it was A65 based would be doing it a misdeed. Incredible handbuilt bike. Ticks so many boxes with me; art deco? check, girder? check, tuck and roll? check, understated colours? check.

Why do I keep building tarts handbags?

Calne show

2010-07-26T12:07:00.004+01:00

Took a trip across the border to Calne bike show held in the town streets on saturday. Not a notable ride, but a good array of bikes and gear.

Godden single. If my memory is right, John Britten used a Godden based V-twin in his early sprint bikes.

Day out in the past

2010-06-28T10:50:00.002+01:00

Rutland Water, my TR1, Pat's GS500E, Nigel's CB750 chop. Good times.

Introversion

2010-06-28T10:42:00.002+01:00

Having a clear out of one of my draws and found a load of old pics, including some I thought I'd lost. It was really good to find old memories. Prepare for a few old shots to appear. This is a few of my bikes from growing up.

The RM80 Big Wheel was my first bike, bought at 14 with tips from my paper round. £80 i paid for it as a non runner. After some (a lot) of help from my Dad it was a runner again, and I used to tear up and down the lanes and railway track between Holbeach and Gedney.

The TS125ERN was my first road bike. Bought in a working, but rough, state when I was 16, Dad helped me again to get is a bit tidier. He painted the tank, I did a lot of the cleaning and engine painting. It ended up having a new Gianelli expansion chamber and DEP silencer fitted, as well as a new seat cover after this pic. It was a cracking bike.

The CB250 was built for the Horncastle Youth Bike show, and I got a 2nd place trophy for the paint which I was well chuffed with.

The TR1 can be seen mid-build between the orange paint job seen in a few previous posts, and the green paint in the next one.

Eye Eye

2010-06-17T11:56:00.001+01:00

Had surgery yesterday on my eye. Transport was as usual the Tenere. It was an interesting ride home.

Back to normal today, though it looks like I've been ruckussing.

Zen of Neato

2010-06-15T18:32:00.002+01:00

I saw it and couldn't resist, thanks to Brad for sending it out so fast.

Thanks to my g/f for modeling it.

Way back when...

2010-06-11T08:54:00.002+01:00

I was a teenage hoodlum in 1999 I built this-

I'd inherited the bike when my Dad had died a year earlier. When he had it it was a relatively clean Yamaha TR1, but he'd already bought the FZR600 wheels and worked out that it needed TZR125 discs for the front wheel to fit into the TR1 calipers and forks. The tank came from Newark autojumble and cost me a stonking £17, and I still have it. The seat is a spare from a CB250RS I had.

The exhaust was my first attempt at making one, before I knew about pre-drawn bends. The engine had been to Edgar Hedley, who was competing a very quick TR1 in Supertwins at the time. The heads were ported and flowed, the carbs were flowed to each head, the cams were Megacycle, the bores were 1st oversize with the pistons ceramic coated, the barrels ad heads were teflon coated, the rods were balanced and polished, and it made a big difference. With changed gearing the bike would pull 140mph.

It's currently in the back of the shed, on the list to be worked on when I've got a few others out of the way. I'm looking forward to it.

Time

2010-06-08T20:40:00.003+01:00

Sometimes time passes you by and then you get a reminder of it's passing. The veg growing in my small garden reminds me every now and then.

Stickers

2010-06-08T11:21:00.002+01:00

Thanks to Diginate for printing off some stickers for the camp this weekend...

Getting Away

2010-06-08T09:53:00.003+01:00

It was the g/f's suggestion that we just went away for a night, so sat afternoon we loaded up and headed out to a little site just outside Trecastle where the tipi was erected (snigger), and some quiet time was had. The route back was a little more scenic, and all the better for it. Could be the first of many.

Yamaha Super Tenere test ride

2010-05-28T19:23:00.003+01:00

Had a chance to take the new Super Tenere out today for a few hours, lots of fun, great bike, seriously better than a BMW GS. KTM Adventure would have the edge off road I think. Still the S10 held it's own, even 2up.

Coming together

2010-05-27T19:36:00.002+01:00

Busy day today. After finishing off the frame brackets yesterday and painting the frame it was assembly time. First off swingarm, shock (with new spring), forks and wheels

Then add the bodywork to see how it sits

Then get the engine in

Then have a feeling of satisfaction

Just waiting on some spacers for the wheels, and exhaust flanges so I can build the exhaust system. After that it's all pretty easy.

Any old iron

2010-05-26T09:18:00.003+01:00

Take a 2 gallon lorry air tank found on the road-

Strip of coating and cut a hatch-

Cut and weld an old Firestorm high level link pipe to form a chimney stub-

Paint black-

Burn stuff-

RIP Bonneville

2010-05-26T09:15:00.002+01:00

Monday we had to have our cat Bonneville put to sleep. She'd had kidney failure, and despite spending a weekend in the vets on a drip and medication she was getting worse. Will miss her very much.

Run free missy.

Sparkle

2010-05-23T19:23:00.003+01:00

With many thanks to Scarlett Rickard I now have a beautiful sidepanel painted up for SB#3. She took my idea of the number 11 with mexican skulls inside and turned it into this-

XTs, TTs, XTZs, C90s?

2010-05-17T14:04:00.005+01:00

What do the above have in common?

Thumpers, or indeed, thumpettes.

Dave and I crashed the XT500 forum run at Llanthony Priory on saturday. There were some nice beasts there, and it was good to catch up with a few people too.

Then we rode like hoodlums back along the Gospel Pass.

More thump

2010-05-17T14:00:00.002+01:00

A kind friend came over saturday and left me with his van a lot lighter. The reason? He deposited his DR800 in my shed.

In bits.

A bearing has gone inside the gearbox, and the engine requires splitting. This is job number one. After that job number two is reassembly, followed by job number three which is building a sidecar for it.

VJMC but not J

2010-05-12T15:41:00.003+01:00

Cardiff VJMC show

2010-05-09T16:49:00.003+01:00

A nice run out on the Speed Triple saw us at the 1st Cardiff VJMC show. Plenty of bikes in the car park, and plenty more inside. Some real gems there and definitely worth going again next year.